One Week Till Blast Off..anyone Else?

[Sailingagain]

We are flying out day ahead of our first DC next Sat June 3. Taking the 4 day cruise only on the wonder. Hubby and myself are taking our 6 yr old grandaughter. We have cruised many times but not on Disney. We did do Big Red Boat. WE are true Disney people and are very excited. Any advice?

[mom x4,grandma x4]

Howdy,
You are going to have an AWESOME time!!

We have done 11 DCL cruises so far and we too have taken the grandkids with us!! If you take 2 white, washed and ironed pillowcases and put them in a zip lock bag with sharpie (waterproof pens) and a card with your name and room number on it. Drop these off the FIRST day at the guest services desk and ask for autographs. You can say everyones autographs or just the princesses or whom ever your grandaughter likes. Then the last night on the cruise it will be delivered to your room all signed. You now have a special free souvenir for your grandaughter or yourselves. Once in awhile they get busy and you have to pick them up at guest services, but 99% of the time they deliver it to your room. Just be sure to do this the FIRST day or they may not have time to get it done for you. They dont advertise this, but they will do it. we have some great pillowcases.

also the day before you get to CC they will offer a kite making class for kids with an adult. This is free and makes for a great free souvenir for your grandaughter. They are easy to make and the kids love to decorate them. Then they can fly them at CC with your help!! They do fold down really nice for packing too.
Pirate party is great fun. it is late night, but le tyour GD stay up for this, it has characters and pirates, music and dancing and topped off by fireworks fired off the hsip. DCL is the only cruise line to do this!! Plus there will be a nice buffet on deck after the party. you are invited to dress as a pirate if you choose to. at dinner they will give everyone a free pirate bandana to wear to the party and they do offer face painting on board where lotsof kids get their faces painted as if they have a scar and a eye patch. There is a small fee for this.
always arrive for the character greets 10 minutes early so less time in line and you will see them before they cut off the line. The day you are at CC they will have a time in your Navigator paper that will telll you when the characters will be out along the way to the beach. Try to go tot he beach during this time since people are all in a hurry to go to the beach the lines for characters are short and move quickly!! This is a great time to stop and see them along the way. i think there are 4 stops where they are at.
They also appear at the gazebo on the island near cookes BBQ. So keep aneye out if you stroll by there, because the lines are short and move quickly too!!
There are just too many great things to tell you, but the few tips I have given you arnt always listed anywhere. Oh also at guest services they have a paper that will help you to find hidden mickeys around the ship. Just ask for it. You can use this like a scavenger hunt for your GD. Kids just love to walk around trying to find these Mickeys in between their time sin the clubs and pools. It is a good way to fill in free time.
If you do something in Nassau I would highly recommend the Atlantis dig excursion, which you can take a taxi and do if you dont want to book through DCL. The aquuarium is really neat, I dont like aquariums usually, but this is well worth seeing!! Plus the architecture of the hotel is awesome to see. Also right after you get away fromthe port there is a horse drawn buggy ride which is $10 per person and lasts about 20 to 25 minutes through town. The noise of the traffic is loud, but it is a fun thing to do with a young child andit is right after you exit the security building at the port. Just follow the sidewalk towards the road and it will be on your left right along the street. The pirate museum is great, but probably not for a young child. maybe 10 and older.

well i wish you a very Magical cruise!!! I hope you iwil post a trip report to let us know how it went!!
mom x4,grandma x4

[Sailingagain]

Thanks for all the tips. Did your GK's eat in the DR with you or in the play room? We are planning on her eating with us but we have late seating on wait list for first.

[mom x4,grandma x4]

Yes the ate with us, we had early dining, but the little guy fell asleep everytime. The will put chairs together to lay the kids down during dinner if you want and have one extra seat at your table. Many people bring in small umbrella type strollers for the kids to sleep in during dinner too.
Lots of people ask for the kids meals ASAP, feed them and then take them to the clubs and come back to enjoy a quiet meal without the kids too.
If you think the kids will fall asleep and not eat, get them room service or eat around the pool at a early time, then if they are awake at dinner just get something light for them. Also if your on the 7 day cruise the buffet i sopen all but the first and last night. Even though it is a buffet you do order from a menu, like the dining rooms have but it is more laid back and relaxed in there. Lots of people with young kids go there to so it is easier to get through dinner. But then you miss seeing the other 3 restaurants.
They do have aplace and time the first day for changing dinner times. It is listed on your Navigator newspaper in your room. Go there right at the assigned time and you should have a very good chance of getting an early time. We have had good success with this.
Have an awesome trip!!!
mom x4,grandma x4